The Chinese New Year is filled with excitement by families and friends who come together to celebrate this official public week holiday. It’s a week of celebration and many activities, from family reunions, visiting parks, decorating homes and exchanging red envelopes to setting off fireworks and firecrackers. An expat searching for ESL jobs in China will admire and appreciate the activities and celebrations during this period. They will learn a lot from the Chinese culture and traditions while celebrating and spending time with the vibrant Chinese community. Below are some of the ways of celebrating the Chinese New Year.
- Watching Dragon and Lion Dances
One of the ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year is by watching the dragon and lion dances. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolises wisdom, power and superiority. Residents in China perform the dances at big occasions and festivals to welcome good fortune, luck and new beginnings. The lion and dragon dances are an important part of the Chinese New Year and are performed to usher good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. When teaching English in China, it’s important to teach about the dragon and lion dance to appreciate and educate students about the history of Chinese culture.
The dragon and lion dances are performed with energy and joy for a longer duration during the festival to bring more prosperity and fortune to the community. The dragon and lion dances are performed to bring happiness and welcome the festive mood.
- Enjoy a family reunion dinner
Families can participate in enjoying a family reunion dinner during the Chinese New Year while talking and spending time together until late in the night. Families travel back to their rural homes to be reunited with their extended family to enjoy this festival together. The Chinese New year celebration usually begins with a delicious family reunion meal and traditional dishes, including fish, dumplings, chicken and vegetables. The menu and an extensive range of delicious foods are intended to shower the occasion and celebration with luck, success and wealth in the family.
- Exchanging red envelopes
The exchanging of red envelopes is important in celebrating the Chinese New Year. Receiving and giving red envelopes with lucky money is an iconic symbol and unique culture in the Chinese New Year celebrations. The receiving and giving of a red envelope is a gesture or sign of goodwill that helps build strong relationships among friends and families. The red envelopes are decorated with beautiful Chinese symbols and calligraphy to convey prosperity and good luck to the recipient. The exchanging of red envelopes is done on special occasions, including birthdays and weddings. Parents typically give red envelopes to their children during this occasion to wish them growth, health and excellent studies in the coming year.
- Setting off fireworks and firecrackers
The arrival of Chinese New Year is ushered with loud fireworks and firecrackers in the different cities and towns in China. Families and friends come together to enjoy this wonderful activity and joyful moment. It’s believed in China that the louder the firecrackers get, the luckier and better it will be for farming and business in the coming year. A foreign teacher looking for ESL jobs in China will have the opportunity to watch the setting of fireworks, which offers a spectacular view, while spending time with friends.
An expat teaching English in China will be able to celebrate and experience the Chinese New Year celebrations. They will have the opportunity to visit and attend public celebrations in temple fairs and parks. These are one of the best places to visit during the Chinese New Year festive celebrations. Celebrating the Chinese New Year festivities offers an enjoyable and unforgettable experience for most people living, studying or working in China.
